Heating system



Feb. 18, 1930. u, TADDlKEN 1,747,193

HEATING SYSTEM Filed NOV. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 5| Z9 51 -z| 24 3s 35 r l 2 INVENTOR U-AIuddiKen BY a m M ATTORNEY HEATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR :3 .AJ'addiKen GAP; M

ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ULRICH A. TADDIKEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPQRATION OF IENNSYL-v VANIA HEATING SYSTEM Application filed November 30 1927.

My invention relates to vapor heating systems, and more particularly to condensate and air removal apparatus for such systems, and it has for an object, to improve the efliciency of installations of this character.

In installations of the type described, it is advantageous to return the condensate from the heater system to the boilers as feed water without cooling the condensate, as this conserves the heat of the condensate and efi'ects a saving in the amount offuel required for the boilers. This is diflicult to accomplish, however, due to the presence of air, which invariably leaks into such systems and which must be removed from the condensate before the latter is suitable for boiler feed purposes.

The air and vapor mixture cannot be removed economically unless it is cooled, so as to considerably reduce the volume. Furthermore, in accordance with Daltons law of partial pressures, the presence of the air increases the total pressure and thus, interferes with the maintenance of the proper vacuum. Hence, the air cannot be permitted to accumur late.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to provide an extraction pump for removing condensate and non-condensable vapors from the heater system and for passing the condensate and the gases to a separator, and to provide a booster pump for passing the condensate from the separator to the feed water hes ing system. To reduce the volume of condensate, water vapor and air so that the extraction pump need not be unduly large, this condensate aggregate is passed through a cooler before going to the suction of the extraction pump.

In an installation of this kind, where 250 gallons per minute of condensate were returned from the system at 185 F., and 11 inches of vacuum, it was found necessary to cool the condensate aggregate to 125 F. in order to sufiiciently reduce the volume of the air and vapors so that a condensate pump of size which would be considered economical could handle them. This reduction of temperature from 185 F, to 125 F., means an extraction of 7,500,000 B. t. u. per hour, which Serial No. 236,867.

is equivalent to the heat required to generate approximately 6,800 lbs. of steam per hour.

l/Vith the condensate aggregate at 185 F., and the extraction pump displacing 146 cubic feet per minute, only 1 1b. of air is removed for every every 5.6 lbs. of water vapor removed. On cooling to 125 F., the density of the air is increased and water vapor is condensed with the result that 1 lb. of air is removed for every 0165 lbs. of water vapor. Thus the air handling capacity of such a pump can be increased by approximately 750% by cooling the condensate aggregate as indicated, but this is accompanied by a loss of 7,500,000 B. t. 11. per hour in this particular installation. Hence, it is quite apparent that great economies could be effected if the con densate could be returned to the boilers without suffering a decrease in temperature and,

at the same time, the air might be considerably cooled previous to its removal.

More particularly, therefore, an object of my invention is to provide an installation of the type described with means for cooling gaseous media, such as air, previous to its removal, and to provide for returning condensate from the heating system to the boilers, or to a feed water heating system without lowering its temperature.

Apparatus embodying the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying orawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of portions of a heating installation, showing the apparatus in section; and,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but show- I ing a modified form of my invention.

According to my invention, condensate is sprayed through the gaseous media at the suction of the extraction pump, so that the gaseous media may be'cooled to substantially the temperature of the condensate and the condensable vapors may be condensed and re turned to the condensate with a slight gain in temperature. The uncondensed constituents of the gaseous media are then removed to another cooler where they are further cooled so as to reduce the amount of work required of the air removal apparatus. Y

In this way, it is possible to return the condensate from the extraction pump directly to a feed-water system, or to the boilers, without abstracting heat from the condensate. The extraction pump handles only condensate, while the air removal apparatus handles only air and other uncondensed media which has been considerably cooled. Hence, the pumping apparatus is capable of attaining good efficiencies and, at the same time, the heat of the condensate is saved.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I show a condensate return pipe 10, which is connected through the expansion joint 11, to the pipe T 12. This return pipe 10 is relatively large so that condensed, as well as non'condensed media, such as free vapors, which may be at a higher temperature than the condensate may pass freely through the pipe, the condensate passing downwardly through the T 12 to the inlet 13 of the condensa'te pump 14.

The condensate is discharged from the pump 14 into the line 16, through which it passes to the feed water heater 17 and then, either through other heaters, or to the boiler as teed water.

A'jet condenser 18 is connected to the upper connection of the T 12, and this condenser is, preferably, supplied with condensa'te as service water, by means of the connection 19 between the condensate line 16 and the nozzle chamber 21 of the condenser. If desired, a suitable valve 22 may be disposed in the line 19, so as to regulate the flow therethrough and likewise, a valve 23 may be disposed in the line 16 between the connection 19 and the heater, 17. By means of the valves 22 and 23, it will be obvious that the flow through the connection 19 may be easily regulated. A non-return valve .25 may also be disposed in the line 16 between the valve 23 and the connection 19, so as to assure that under any conditions of operation, heated condensate will not be permitted to pass from the heater 17 to the condenser 18.

From the nozzle chamber 21, condensate passes downwardly through the nozzle 24, and through the cone 26 and the T 12 to the inlet 13 of the pump 14. Suitable openings, such as the inclined holes 27, are arranged about the base of the cone 26 to provide water sealed drains to the mixing chamber.

Any gaseous media, such as uncondensed vapors, or air and other noncondensable gases, which pass from the return pipe 10 into the T 12, will pass upwardly into the cone 26 where the gaseous media will be cooled to substantially the temperature of the condensate passing through the nozzle 24, so that condensable vapors will be condensed and returned to the inlet ofthe condensate pump 14. The remaining uncondensed gaseous media will pass upwardly through the cone 26 and through theopenings 28 provided about the upper portion of the cone and through the connection 29 to the surface cooler 30.

The cooler 30 is of the type well known in the art and comprises a shell 31, on the lower portion of which is provided a condensate outlet 33. Air and other noncondensable gases are removed from the shell 31 through the outlet 34 disposed in the lower side of the shell. A nest of cooling tubes 36 is disposed within the shell, and extending from above the air outlet 34 downwardly through the nest is an air battle 37.

The condensate outlet 33 is connected to the T 12 by means of the connection 38 so that condensate from the cooler 30 may be returned to the suction of the pump 14. In this way, it will be obvious that vapors which are returned with the condensate aggregate through the pipe 10 to the T 12 may be condensed to water at the temperature of the condensate and returned to the boiler through the connection 16. The non'condensable vapors and gases are cooled somewhat by the jet 24 of the condenser 18, and are further cooled by the circulating media passing through the tube nest 36 of the cooler 30. Such of these vapors and gases as may be condensed in the cooler 30 are returned through the connection 38 to the heater system, so that there is substantially no loss of Water on this account. The uncondensable gases are removed from the cooler 30 through the connection 34, by means of suitable air removal apparatus 35.

lVhere a surface cooler such as the cooler 30 is used, it is possible to save the heat transferred to the circulating water for this cooler by using this water for washing dishes, or in laundries, hotels, or the like, where large quantities of warm water are often required.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is similar in many respects to that shown in 1, but instead of a surface cooler 30 I provide a jet cooler 41 of the barometric type, the cooler proper being similar in all respects to the jet condenser 18 previously described. The uncondensable gaseous media passes through the connection 42, and the goose neck 43, into the cooler 41. below the cone 44, and about the base of the latter are suitable drains 45, similar to the drains 27 in the cone 26 of the condenser 18.

The condenser 41 is provided with service water through the connection 46, and the flow of this service water may be regulated v by a suitable valve, such as the valve 47, so that the water may pass from the nozzle chamber 48 through the nozzle 49 and downwardly through the mixing chamber provided by the cone 44 and into the tail pipe 51 which discharges into a hotwell 52. The goose neck 43 is provided to prevent any water which is sprayed downwardly through the cone 44 from passing into the connection 42 and into the condenser 18. Air and other noncondensable gases are removed from the mixing chamber through the openings 54 about the upper portion of the cone 44: into the chamber 56.

Any suitable air removal apparatus may be provided, but preferably, the ejector 57 is connected to the air chamber 56 so as to remove gaseous media from the chamber. The ejector 57 is supplied with motive fluid through the connection 58, and is arranged to discharge, through the connection 59, into the steam space of the heater 17, so that the heat of the motive fluid, which is supplied through the connection 58, may be recovered in the heater 17.

It will readily be seen therefore that I have provided a heating system of the type clescribed in which means are provided for returning the condensate from the heater system to the boilers, or to the feed water heaters, as the case may be, without lowering the temperature of the condensate and that at the same time I have provided for considerably cooling air and other noncondensable gases previous to their removal by the air removal apparatus. Hence, the air removal apparatus may operate quite efficiently without the necessity of abstracting considerable heat from the condensate.

As stated heretofore, the non-condensed media, such as free vapors in the conduit 10, may be at a higher temperature than the condensate in the conduit 10 and, under such conditions, a very effective condensing action may be obtained in the condenser 18. However, under some conditions of operation, the temperatures of the vapor and the condensate in the conduit 10 may be substantially the same whereupon I have foundthat very effective separation of the condensate and non-condensed media may be obtained by closing the valve 22 and utilizing the con denser 18 as a vent chamber, it not being advisable to provide a cooler in the conduit 19 as this would depress the temperature of the condensate and thus defeat one of the major objects of the present invention.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are speciflcally set forth by the appended claims.

lVliat I claim is:

1. In an installation of the type described, the combination of a chamber for receiving condensate and gaseous media from a heater system, fluid translating means for removing condensate from the lower portion of the chamber, means for passing some of the condensate from the fluid-translating means to a feed-water heating system, and

means for passing some of the condensate from the fluid translating means into an upper portion of said chamber.

2. In an installation of the type described, the combination of a chamber for receiving condensate and gaseous media from a heater system, fluid translating meansfor removing condensate from the lower portion of the chamber, means for passing some of the condensate from the fluid translating means to a feed water heating system, and means for causing the remainder of the condensate to pass into the upper portion of said chamber in a finely divided condition.

3. The combination with a thermal system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate with out substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a pump for forcing condensate from said passage to an element of said system, means providing a vent chamber in communication with the inlet of the pump, means for supplying condensate from the discharge side of the pump to effect condensation of condensable gaseous media in said vent chamber, translating means for non-condensable gaseous media, and means for conducting gaseous media from said vent chamber after it has been acted upon therein by the condensate to the translating means.

4-. The combination with a thermal system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in'temperature of the condensate comprising a pump for forcing condensate from said passage to an element of said system, means providing a vent chamber in communication with the inlet of the pump, means for supplying condensate from the discharge side of the pump to'efiect condensation of condensable gaseous unedia in said vent chamber, translating means for non-condensable gaseous media, and means for conducting gaseous media from said vent chamber after it has been acted upon therein by the condensate to the translating means and including an intercooler.

5. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a pump for forcing condensate from said passage to a heat-absorbing element of said system, means arranged above the pump and providing a vent chamber in communicaton with the pump inlet, means for supplying condensate from thedischarge side of the pump to effect condensation of condensa'ble gaseous media in said vent chamber, translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from said chamber after such media has been acted upon therein by the condensate, and an inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the vent chamber and the translating means.

'6. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and gaseous media and having an element for heating condensate, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a pump for forcing .condensate from said passage to said heating element, means providing a vent chamber in communication with the inlet of the pump, means for supplying condensate from .a suitable point in the system to the vent chamber in order to effectcondensation of condensable media therein, translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from the vent chamber after it has been acted upon therein by the condensate, and an inter-cooler arranged between the vent chamber and the translating means.

7. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and noncondensable gaseous media and having a heating element, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a pump for forcing condensate from said passage to said heating element, means providing a vent chamber incommunication with the inlet of the pump, means for supplying condensate from the discharge side of the pump to effect condensation of the condensable gaseous media in said vent chamber, a check valve for preventing back flow of condensate from said heating element into the vent chamber, translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from said vent chamber after it has been acted upon therein by the condensate, andan inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the vent chamber and the translating means.

8. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensableand non-condensable gaseous media and having a feed-waterheater, of means for eflecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a pump for forcing condensate from said passage to said feed-water heater, means providing a vent chamber in communication with the inlet of the pump, means for supplying condensate from the discharge side of the pump to efiect-condensation of condensable media entering said vent chamber from said passage, translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from said vent chamber after it has been acted upon therein by the condensate, an intercooler arranged in the connection between the vent chamber and thetranslating means, and means for supplying exhaust from the translating means to said feed-water heater.

'9. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising means providing a vertically-disposed well or chamber whose upper portion is in communication with said passage, a pump communicating with the lower port-ion of said vertical well or chamber for forcing condensate therefrom to a suitable element of said system, a jet condenser carried by the means providing said vertical chamber or well and provided with an interior vent and condensing chamber in communication with said vertical chamber or well, said jet condenser having aninlet water chamber and an outlet for uncondensed media, means for supplying condensate from the discharge side of said pump to said water chamber, translating means arranged to withdraw gaseous media from said outlet, and an inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the outlet and the translating means. 4

10. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable' media, of means for efiecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a substantially vertical tubular element whose upper portion is in communication with said passage, said tubular element providing a substantially vertical chamber or well, a pump in communication with the lower portion ofsaid vertical chamber or well and arranged to pump condensate from the latter to a suitable element of said system, a jet condenser superimposed upon said tubular element and providing an interior vent and condensing chamber in communication with said vertical well or chamber, said jet condenser including an inlet water chamber and having an outlet for gaseous media, means for supplying condensate from the discharge side of said pump to the water chamber, translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from the outlet, and an inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the said outlet and the translating means.

11. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensateand condensable and non-condensable media and having a feed-water heater, of means for effecting removal of non-condcnsable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a substantially vertically disposed tubular element or shell providing a substantial vertically-disposed chamber or well whose upper portion is communication with said passage, a pump having its inlet communicating with the lower portion of said vertical chamber or well, a discharge conduit leading from the pump to said heater, a valve arranged in said conduit, a jet condenser s'uperimposed upon said tubular element or shell and providing an interior vent and condensing chamber in communication with said vertical chamber or well, said jet condenser having an inlet water chamber and an outlet for gaseous media, a branch conduit in communication with said first conduit between the pump and said valve and communicating with said water chamber, a valve in the branch conduit, and translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from said vent chamber after it has been acted upon therein by the condensate.

2. In a combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a substantially vertically-disposed tubular element or shell providing an interior substantially vertical well or chamber whose upper portion is in communication with said passage, a pump for receiving condensate from the lower portion of said vertical chamber or well, a discharge conduit leading from the outlet of said pump and communicating with a suitable element of said system, a valve in the conduit, a jet condenser superimposed upon said tubular element or shell and provided with an interior vent and condensing chamber in communication with said vertical chamber or well, said jetcondenser having an inlet water chamber and an outlet for gaseous media, a branch conduit connected to the first conduit between the pump and the valve for supplying condensate to said inlet water chamber, a valve in the branch conduit, translating means for gaseous media connected to said outlet, and an inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the outlet and said translating means.

13. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media and having a feed-water heater, of means for efi'ecting removal of none-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a substantially vertically-disposed tubular element or shell providing an interior substantially vertical chamber or well whose upper portion is in communication with said passage, a. pump communicating with the lower portion of the vertical chamher or well, a jet condenser superimposed upon said vertical tubular element or shell and provided with an interior vent and condensing chamber in communication with said vertical chamber or well, said jet condenser including an inlet water chamber and an outlet for gaseous media, means for supplying condensate discharged by said pump to the feed water. heater and to the inlet water chamber of the jet condenser, a check valve provided in said last-named means for preventing the back flow of heated water from the teed-water heater into said inlet water chamber, and translating means for withdrawing gaseous media from said outlet.

14. The combination with a heating system having a passage for condensate and condensable and non-condensable gaseous media and having a feed-water heater, of means for effecting removal of non-condensable gaseous media from the condensate without substantial reduction in temperature of the condensate comprising a substantially vertically-disposed tubular element or shell providing an interior substantially vertical chamber or well whose upper portion is in communication with said passage, a pump communicating with the lower portion of the vertical chamber or well, a jet condenser superimposed upon said vertical tubular element or shell and provided with an interior vent and condensing chamber in communication with said vertical chamber or well, said jet condenser ineluding an inlet water chamber and an outlet for gaseous media, means for supplying condensate discharged by said pump to the feedwater heater and to the inlet water chamber of the jet condenser, a check valve provided in said last-named means for preventing the back flow of heated water from the feed-water heater into said inlet water chamber, translating means for withdrawin gaseous media from said outlet, an inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the outlet and the translating means, and means providing for the utilization of heat of exhaust motive fluid of said translating means in said feed-water heater.

15. The combination with a thermal system having conduit means extending in a general horizontal direction and which, in service, normally contains a lower stratum of condensed media and an upper stratum of noncondensed media, of means for eflecting removal of the non-condensed media from the condensed media comprising a vertically-extending chamber communicating with said conduit means and having portions extending above and below the conduit means, the upper portion of said chamber constituting a vent chamber for the reception of non-condensed media from said conduit means, means for withdrawing non-condensed media from the vent chamber and a pump connecting with the lower portion of said chamber for translating condensed media there from as well as media condensing in the vent chamber and for discharging the condensed media to an element of the thermal system.

16. The combination with a thermal system having conduit means extending in a general horizontal direction and which, in service, normally contains a lower stratum of condensed media and an upper stratum of noncon'densed media, of means for efiecting removal of the non-condensed media from the condensed media comprising a stand pipe connecting with the upper portion of said conduit means and arranged to receive the noncondensed media, withdrawal means for removing non-condensed media from the upper portion of the stand pipe, an inter-cooler arranged in the connection between the stand pipe and the non-condensed media withdrawal means, and a pump communicating with the lower portion of said conduit means and with said inter-cooler for removing condensed media from said conduit means as well as media condensing in both the stand pipe and the inter-cooler and for discharging the condensed media to an element of the thermal system.

17. The combination with a thermal system having conduit means extending in a general horizontal direction and which, in serv ice, normally contains a lower stratum of condensed media and an upper stratum of noncondensed media, of means for eiiecting removal of the non-condensed media from the condensed media comprising a separator including a vertically-extending body and an inlet projecting laterally from an intermediate portion of the body, said inlet communicating with said conduit means for the reception of condensed and non-condensed media, a vertically-extending vent chamber communicating with the upper portion of said separator body for the reception of the noncondensed media, means for withdrawing non-condensed media from the upper portion of said vent chamber and a pump communicating with the lower portion of said separator body for translating condensed media from said separator as well as media condensing in the vent chamber and for discharging such condensed media to an element of the thermal system.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name this 23rd day of Nov, 1927.

ULRICH A. TADDIKEN. 

